A Natural History of the Piano by Stuart Isacoff - Book review

A Natural History of the Piano

The Instrument, the Music, the Musicians - from Mozart to Modern Jazz and Everything in Between

By: Stuart Isacoff

Published: November 20, 2012
Format: Paperback, 384 pages
ISBN-10: 0307279332
ISBN-13: 978-0307279330
Publisher: Vintage









"But the piano is more than just an instrument; in the words of Oliver Wendall Holmes, it is a 'wondrous box',filled as much with hopes, yearnings, and disappointments as with strings and hammers and felt', writes pianist, composer, critic, and educator at the SUNY at Purchase,Stuart Isacoff, in his engaging and highly informative book A Natural History of the Piano: The Instrument, the Music, the Musicians - from Mozart to Modern Jazz and Everything in Between. The author describes the fascinating story of the rise in importance of the piano, from its origins in the Medici court, along its astounding journey through classical and jazz music composition and performance.

Stuart Isacoff recognizes the overall preeminence of the piano as more than a mere musical instrument, but also as an expression of human culture and creativity. The author guides the reader along a musical voyage that spans several centuries of piano composition and musical expression. Stuart Isacoff shares the beauty and grandeur of the piano, its music, and the pianists who play the piano's eighty-eight keys.

From Mozart to Beethoven and Debussy to Liszt, the author presents the piano as integral to the sounds, textures, and history of classical music. Offering the performances and compositions of jazz pianists from Peterson to Ellington, Stuart Isacoff demonstrates the versatility of the piano as musical instrument and outlet for cultural expression.

Stuart Isacoff (photo left) understands that a piano can capture the spirit of any time and place, as well as an outlet for emotions and creativity. Whether in a concert hall, a home, or a tavern, the piano and its myriad of moods and sounds forms a crucial point of focus and enjoyment. Indeed, the author presents the concept of the near mystical overtones of the piano, and the spell it casts over those who play it, and those who listen to its music. The piano can express the music of any time, any style, and any place as a universal bearer of music and delight.

Stuart Isacoff takes the reader for a magical musical tour of the times and places of the piano, and of those who tinkle its ivories. The book includes the following chapters in the piano's amazing and intricate journey:

* A gathering of traditions
* The piano is born
* The first piano superstar
* Piano fever
* Performers on the road
* The four sounds
* The combustibles
* The alchemists
* The rhythmitizers
* The melodists
* The cultivated and the vernacular
* The Russians re coming
* The Germans and their close relations
* Keys to the world
* On the cutting edge
* Everything that is old is new again

For me, the power of the book is how Stuart Isacoff combines a a detailed and entertaining history to the piano, with a fascinating account of those who play the piano and utilize it as an inspiration to create new music. The author creates a history that is part musical and part social, as he sheds light on how musical tastes in the world of classical and jazz based piano have both evolved and been reborn. The story of the piano is one of passion for music, creative expression, and the central importance of the piano itself in musical history.

Stuart Isacoff enhances the delightful text and narrative with numerous photographs and artwork pieces to illustrate the great composers and performers who created their own special joy of music. The book is fully annotated with end notes for each chapter along with a brief, but useful biographical appendix. The book also contains additional contributions by great musicians and composers, of today and through history, that enrich the text and provide depth and background to each chapter.

I highly recommend the enjoyable and informative book A Natural History of the Piano: The Instrument, the Music, the Musicians - from Mozart to Modern Jazz and Everything in Between by Stuart Isacoff, to anyone who shares the joy of the piano as a composer, educator, performer, historian, or a listener seeking a clear and concise history of the piano, its music, and some of its greatest jazz and classical performers. This book will both entertain and enlighten you, while increasing your enjoyment of the wonderful piano.

Rooftop Revolution by Danny Kennedy - Book review

Rooftop Revolution

How Solar Power Can Save Our Economy - and our planet - from Dirty Energy

By: Danny Kennedy

Published: September 3, 2012
Format: Paperback, 192 pages
ISBN-10: 1609946642
ISBN-13: 978-1609946647
Publisher: Berrett-Koehler Publishers










"Right now it;s important that everyone know the truth about solar's power and how we should be making energy. Our future - our safety, our prosperity, and our environment - depends on the success of the Rooftop Revolution" writes solar power advocate, award winning innovator, and founder and president of Sungevity, Inc. Danny Kennedy in his eye opening and societal action oriented book Rooftop Revolution: How Solar Power Can Save Our Economy - and our planet - from Dirty Energy. The author describes how now is the time to move away from energy generated by fossil fuels and embrace the ever increasing importance of solar generated energy.

Danny Kennedy recognizes that the solar generated electricity is increasing at an exponential rate. At the same time, the author points out the employment in the solar industry has doubled since 2009. Danny Kennedy writes that he expects that employment growth trend to continue to soar both in the near and longer term. On the other hand,m the author provides evidence the amount of electricity produced by coal has declined to levels of the 1930s. Along with this decline in coal powered electricity has been an accompanying loss of employment within the coal power industry.

Danny Kennedy presents evidence that the information about solar energy, as shared by its opponents, is false In place of fossil fuel generated electricity, the author presents solar power as a viable and clean substitute for fossil based energy in general, and coal generated electricity in particular.

Danny Kennedy (photo left) understands the critical importance of electricity to modern society. The author also recognizes that the production and provision of electricity is very big business. As a result, Danny Kennedy offers alternative information to that provided by the entrenched interests in the fossil fuel and nuclear based energy business. The author refutes the standard arguments made against solar generated electricity by those who support coal, oil and gas, and the nuclear industries.

Along with sharing effective rebuttals to the usual sources, Danny Kennedy goes farther in demonstrating that solar energy creates more jobs, boosts the economy, and provides a clean and sustainable energy source. The author makes the compelling case for solar generated electricity in the following chapters:

* Sunny side up
* Empires of the Sun: Dirty energy's petty politics
* Role models for the rooftop revolution
* Take a walk on the sunny side
* Hot jobs
* Energized

For me, the power of the book is how Danny Kennedy provides a powerful economic, energy consumption, and environmental sustainability case for solar energy, combined with the practical steps for making the solar vision a reality. The author refers to the transformation from fossil fuel based energy to solar power a rooftop revolution. The changes created by the now ongoing transition, from the declining fossil fuel based industry to one powered by the Sun, are indeed revolutionary. That revolution is not only technological and economic, but also represents a complete sea change in thinking on the part of the population.

For entrepreneurs, the book offers some very good news. Solar power generation saves money for businesses of all sizes, but also provides opportunities for technological innovation and and new venture start ups. The author enhances his case for solar energy through careful research, the results of which are presented in the book. Danny Kennedy also shares anecdotes and case studies of successful solar energy projects and companies, and how solar has proven effective in replacing traditional energy sources in new and exciting ways.

I highly recommend the visionary and transformational book Rooftop Revolution: How Solar Power Can Save Our Economy - and our planet - from Dirty Energy by Danny Kennedy, to any entrepreneurs, homeowners, home designers, architects and engineers, electrical utilities, environmental groups, and public policy makers seeking a clear and concise guide to the importance and benefits of solar generated electricity to individuals, businesses, the economy, and the environment. This book will change the way you think and approach the whole question of solar energy and how it is already replacing fossil fuel generated electricity.

John Buck: Dynamic Self Governance - Interview

Dynamic self governance expert John Buck, CEO of the Sociocracy Consulting Group, associate at Creative Learning Solutions, Inc, and author of We the People: Consenting to a Deeper Democracy was kind enough to take the time to answer a few questions about the principle of dynamic self governance, and about the Dynamic Self-Governance: Become More Effective Together workshop and conference.

Thanks to John Buck for taking the time to share his thoughtful responses to the interview questions. They are greatly appreciated.







What was the background to creating this workshop on the Dynamic Self-Governance: Become More Effective Together and how is it organized?

John Buck: Dynamic self-governance (DSG) emerged about 30 years ago from experiments in The Netherlands in Endenburg Elektrotechniek, Inc., a company that serves as a living management science laboratory while doing heavy electrical installation work for buildings, oil rigs, ships, and other large projects. The Sociocracy Group, an international firm spun off from Endenburg Elektrotechniek, offers workshops such as the one in Washington, DC, through affiliates around the world.

What does the concept of dynamic self governance mean?

John Buck: The Dutch name for the method, sociocracy, was coined by social scientist August Compte in the 1800s. It means "rule by the socios" - that is, people who have a social relationship with each other. Socios in Spanish means partner. In contrast, democracy means "rule by the demos" - that is, the general mass of people. Dynamic self-governance (DSG) means the same thing as sociocracy, and we have chosen to use it in the U.S. and Canada rather than sociocracy because it is more descriptive and easier to say! DSG is "a way to guide ourselves in a world that is constantly changing."

How does the idea of dynamic self governance help leaders make better decision?

John Buck: Leaders like to use DSG because it gives them a process that can think smarter than they can as individual leaders. Leaders don't share or diminish their power. Rather they reconfigure their power during policy formation. DSG procedures create a "many-mind" decision process that has been used successfully across nonprofit and business sectors in many countries.

Such sayings as “It’s lonely at the top” or “The buck stops here” reflect an assumption that ultimate authority to make decisions lies with one person. Now imagine that you are a CEO who no longer manages your company--rather you simply steer creativity. The loneliness at the top goes away as well as the constant pressure that pushes decisions upward to you, challenging your ability to delegate. Current corporate governance is seldom if ever so elegant.

In the Washington, DC workshop, participants will work in small groups to experience key structural principles and the new DSG decision-making methods that allow people to work together to make collective decisions efficiently.

John Buck (photo left)

Meetings are often unproductive in many organizations. How can this concept aid in making meetings more productive for everyone?

John Buck: The phrase "almost magical" seems to pop up a lot when people describe their experiences with making decisions in a DSG circle. Everything is organized around the aim or purpose of the organization, that is the organization's deepest potential. This focus lets everyone sense gaps between that purpose and what is and work together to resolve the tensions around those gaps. Every voice gets heard and respected. The processes gently handle the politics not related to purpose that so often prevent satisfying and productive meetings.

How does the dynamic self governance approach establish accountability and the ability to measure results objectively?

John Buck: DSG distributes power throughout an organization. It first asks the organization to lay out how it accomplishes its aim. It asks the organization to specify for each step in its process how it will measure whether the step is being accomplished successfully. Then defines roles with the accountability and authority to act on what needs to be done and what needs to be measured and adjusted. No one else can second guess that authority. The result is systems that are easy to guide and are so dynamic that they adjust to changing and often surprising conditions. As one DSG leader says, "I don't manage the organization anymore. I just steer the creativity."

Is the principle of dynamic self governance applicable to today's most pressing business and economic challenges?

John Buck: A complete list of today's pressing business and economic challenges AND opportunities would certainly be an exciting document. They go hand-in-hand. In the past we''ve gotten our sense of security from sticking to fixed patterns that have proved successful in the past. That's what happened to Kodak and Borders Books and General Motors. They felt secure until they suddenly collapsed. DSG helps us meet our need for security from our ability to steer our way through rapidly changing times punctuated by surprising, even shocking events.

Today's wild technology explosion is highly destabilizing. For example, there would not be an environmental crisis if we hadn't invented gas engines and medical technology that's unleashed a population explosion. We need DSG to give us the tools to cope with and prosper from that instability.

Where is the workshop held and how can a person get involved in participation in this workshop?

John Buck: The workshop will be held in Washington, DC on February 26-27, 2013. Go to www.sociocracyconsulting.com for more information and registration.

What is next for John Buck?

John Buck: I'm excited about new initiatives we have going for 2013. The next development for DSG is organizing collections of organizations for collective impact. That's how whole towns and regions can get together to improve their lives from a whole systems perspective - not just government but also businesses, nonprofits, schools, churches, neighborhoods all handling their piece of the society in a coordinated way. On the frontier proud and independent farmers knew how to get together for a barn raising or to build a local town hall. With DSG processes and tools, the many proud and independent organizations that make up our society can gather do the same thing and on a bigger scale.